Beet-harvesting machine



Dec. l1, 1923.

S. C. BEALE- BEET HARVESTING MACHINE Original Filed May 5, 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 S.C.BEALE BEET HARVESTING MACHINE Dec.. l1, 1923, 1,476,945

Original Filed May 5. 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ArroR/vf'y Dec. 11,1923. 1,476,945

s. c. BEALE BEET HARVESTING MACHINE Original Filed May 5; 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 A TTOR/VEY Dec. 11, 1923. 1,476,945

- s. c. BEALE BET 'HARvEsTING MACHINE Original Filed May 5. 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ,4 TTOH/VEY Dec. 11,1923. f 1,476,945

l s.c.BEALE BEET HARVESTING MACHINE Original Filed Mayb. 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 L94 /05 /22 ,26e/0f A TTU/MIE)l Patented Dec. 11, 1923.

UNITED .STATES .TEN'F OFFICE.

SAMUEL C. REALE, OF LGS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO HORATIO J. FORGY, TRUSTEE, GF SANTA ANA., CALIFORNIA.

BEET-I'IARVESTING MACHINE.

Application filed May 5, 1919, Serial No. 294,899.

To 0.7. Z whom t may concern Le it known that l, Saumur. C. Brenn, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county ol Los Angeles and State or' California, have invented Beet- Harvesting Machines, of which the 'following is a specification.

This invention relates to beet harvesting machines, and is particularly adapted to be used for the harvesting of beets of the sugar variety, which are transported to the refineries and made into sugar.

In the Patent #1,272,604 granted jointly to myself and AnnaB. Knight, entitled Beet harvesters, granted July 16, 1918, is shown and described a beet harvester oi the same general type as my present invention, which briefly, provides means for pulling beets out of the ground, after they have been loosened by a plow, while passing over a row, and carrying them to topping knives where the tops are severed from the body portion.

In all beets used for sugar purposes there is a proportion of waste. Certain portions of the beet are absolutely worthless for the making of sugar, and this waste portion is that part of the beet which is near the foliage and including part of the beet which projects out of the ground at harvesting time. The eXpert beet buyer generally estimates the amount oi, tare due to this worthless portion of the beet and deducts the same from the gross weight and pays the farmer only for the part which is valuable for sugar purposes. This is a hardship to the farmer, inasmuch as he not only pays for the transportation of the part of the beet not used in the factory but loses the same for his own use, this waste part being valuable te him for the feeding of stock or to be turned into the ground for fertilizing purposes.

The main object of my invention is to 'provide a machine which will pass along the ground over the beet rows, pull the beets from the ground, and top the same with relerence to that portion of the beetwhich projects out of the ground, deliver the beets to a proper receptacle and the beet tops to another receptacle.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby the beet pulling` mechanism may be properly adjusted with Renewed .December 12, 1921. Serial No. 521,924.

respect to the surface of the ground to compensate for the sinking therein of the carrying mechanism when the ground is soft and Sooorv A still further object is to provide means for eliminating grass and other foreign substances from the pulling and topping 1nechanism whereby all danger of clogging of said mechanism may be avoided and the beets delivered to the receptacle in a clean manner.

I accomplish the above and other objects by means of the mechanism herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l represents a side elevation of my harvesting machine in operable position embodying by improvements, the beet pulling devices being indicated conventionally in dotted lines, due to the smallness of the scale of the drawing.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of my machine, the beet carrying and pulling mechanism being omitted for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section through the top portion of the machine taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. l, viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows, the duplication of parts which would appear in the back ground being omitted for the sake of clearness.

F l is a 'l'ragmental longitudinal section taken on the line t-Jl ot Fig. 3, viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows, showing only a 'few of the many beet pulling devices.

Fig. 5 is a greatly enlarged transverse section through the lower 1)art of the machine taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. l, the multiplicity o'f'beet pulling devices which would appear in the back ground being omitted to avoid confusion.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 showing one ot the beet pulling devices.

Fig. is a section through one of the beet pulling devices taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a section through one of the beet pulling devices taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a section through one of the beet Cil pulling Vdevices showing its position when ready to grasp a beet.

Fig. is a similar view showing the pulling device after it has grasped a beet.

In carrying out my invention preferably employ a frame 12, comprising a pair of side rails 13 and 14, preferably formed of channel irons, disposed in parallel relation, suitably spaced apart and held rigidly together by the plates 15 and 16` A yoke 17 is pivoted to the plate 15 at the front end of the truck by the kingbolt 20, and is provided with depending bearing arms 21, in which the front wheels 22 are mounted. These wheels have a broad tread in order that they shall not sink unduly in the ground, and are provided on their inner peripheral surfaces with the disk shaped knife edged flanges 23 adapted to cnt into the ground on each side of a row of beets and cut through any grass or foreign substance which may be lodged near the beets, in order that the beet pulling devices may have a free and unrestricted passage to the beets while performing their functions.

Pivoted near the rear end of the frame 12 to each of the side rails 13 and 14 as at 2,4-, are toothed segments 25, each of which is provided with a. stud 26 upon which the rear wheels 27 of the truck are jonrnaled. A transverse shaft 30 is journaled in the side rails 13 and 1st` aud has secured on its ends pinions 31 adapted to mesh with the toothed segments 25. Secured to the shaft 30 at a point between the pinions 31, is a worm Wheel 32 adapted to rotate in the housing 33 which is secured to the rail 14, and journaled in this housing, is one end of the shaft 34: having secured thereto a worm 35 which meshes with the worm wheel 32 to rotate the same.

rlhe forward end of shaft Se is secured to shaft 3G by means of a knuckle joint 37.

shaft 36 being journaled in a housing et() mounted on a beam e1. Loosely journaled on shaft in housing t0 are the opposit'ely disposed miter gea/rss2 and which are adapted to be rotated by the miter gea-r Ll-l mounted on a shaft 4:5 journaled in the housing e0. The miter gears t2 and 43 are each provided with oppositely disposed clutch members 41:6 and e* and adapted to slide on and rotate with the shaft 36. At

. hand wheel 56, which is also arranged adjacent the operators seat.

The lower end of stein is provided with a drum 57 around which passes u cable titl. the ends of which are secured to the yoke 1T for the purpose of guiding thel machine during its operation.

Secured to the cross plate 1G is the plow share G1 adapted to pass through the ground under a row of beets to loosen them. prcliminary to their being pulled, and to also cut off their long depending roots.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that l have provided a simple means for vertically adjusting the plow share (il and regulating its position to aecmmnodate beets of different lengths, well. as a means ot acci 1ately steering the machine when in operation and in proper relation with a row of beets, which briefly is as follows:

The machine is adapted to be drawn over the ground by means of a power tractor (not shown)` and to this end the beam tl is .sc-

ared thereto in an)Y suitable manner, the shaft t5 being geared to thc tractor engine and constantly driven thereby. 'lhe operator sits upon the seat 523 and by nianipulation of the lever 5l shifts the clutch member 50 to engage with one or other of the clutch members etti and 4T to revolve the shaft S4.; in the direction desired. The worm 235 engaging with the worin wheel 3:2 causes the shaft It() to revolvtn which in turn. through the gears Si, meshing with the toothed segments 25. causes the frame 12 which carries the plow share to risc or lower desired. 'lhe operator sits liiackward 'ith respect to the direction ot the advance of the machine and by looking downwardly has a clear view of the row of beets and by manipulation of the hand wheel 5G is enabled to guide the machine in an accurate operable direction.

The beet pulling mechanism is sup-- ported on a pair of wheels (iiand (it suitably secured together, adapted to resti upon the ground and to be rotated in unison b v traction thereon. These wheels are arranged one on each side of the beet row and are provided with the hub G5 journaled on the shaft GG which is secured at opposite endto the side bars GT and 7() of a 'traine having secured thereto the spacer bar 71 r t the rear thereof. The front ends of the side bars (ST and T0 are pivoted at T2 and '73 to ears 'Tland T5 secured to the plate l5 mounted on the main frame of the machine.

Each of the wheels (ii-l and ttt is prefer-- ably formed of a pair o f annular bands 'To and 7T of sheet metal. arranged side by side and spaced a short distanci apart and held in rigid relation by the cross bars S() having a lug 8l. interposed between them and projecting slightly beyond their peripheries. The bars SO are spaced suitably apart around the inner periiilieral edges of the annular bands 'TG and T7 and are riveted lli thereto.l thus leaving a plurality of apertures 82 adapted to receive the teeth of a pair of gears which will hereinafter be described. The lugs 81 not only form part of a gear but serve to imbed themselves into the ground to give added traction and insure a constant revolution to the wheels 63 and 64.

The spokes S3 the wheels 63 and 64 are spaced equally apart and project radially from ya ring 84 which is clamped firmly between the oppositely disposed flanges 35, of the two members 36 and 67 of the hub 65 by means of bolts 90. Secured to the outer ends of the spokes 83, is the annular band 91 of somewhat smaller diameter than the wheels 63 and 64, which is provided with a plurality of elongated apertures 92 in its periphery. lnterposed between the outer peripheral surface of the annular band 91 ata point near each of its outer1 edges` and the inner peripheral surfaces of the wheels 63 and 64, are a plurality of radially disposed sleeves 93 and 94, and passing i through said sleeves and suitable apertures in the band 91 and the wheels 63 and 64 are the bolts and 96. Thus it will be seen that the wheels 63 and 64, the band 91, and the hub 65, are all firmly secured together and adapted to revolve in unison.

A. plurality of the beet pulling devices 62 radiate from the center lof rotation of the wheels 63 and 64 and are carried thereby, they being disposed between the spokes 33, and as they are identical in construction, one only will be described.

Each of the devices 62 comprises a hollow elongated shell 97, provided at its inwardly extending end with a plug 100, having a rod 101 extending therefrom, adapted to fit in a socket 102 formed at the junction of the centrally disposed flanges 85 of the wheel hub 65. The shell 97 is provided at its opposite or outwardly extending end, with a flange 103 having a pair of oppo-sitely disposed sleeves 104 and 105 secured thereto, adapted to surround the sleeves 93 and 94 respectively for sliding relation thereon. A pinion 106 is located within the shell 97 and is secured to a shaft 107 journaled in opposite sides of said shell, and is adapted to engage with the teeth of rack-bars 110 and 111 slidably mounted therein and arranged on opposite sides of said pinion. The rack-bar 110 passes through an aperture 112 in the plug 100, and is adapted to slide in a socket 113 formed in the flange 35 of the wheel hub 65. The rack-bar 111 extends outwardly through the end of the shell 97, and is provided with an enlarged portion 114 adapted to fit snugly in said shell, and has secured to its end a gauge plate 115 arranged in parallel relation to the flange 103, which is provided on its outwardly extending ends with notches 116 and 117, adapted to partially encompass the sleeves 104 and 105 with sliding relation therewith. The shell 97 is provided at its inwardly extending end with oppositely disposed ears 120 and 121. Gripping jaws 122, preferably formed of spring steel, provided with the gripping prongs 123 at their free ends,are arranged in pairs, and each pair is respectively hinged to the ears 120 and 121, and is guided and held in proper relation by the slots 92, 125, and 126 in the band 91, the flange 103, and the plate 115 respectively.

To the side bars 67 and 70 of the frame are secured respectively the plates 127 and 130, which are provided with a plurality of radially disposed arms 131, which supportthe arched tracks 132, 133, 134, 1.35 and 136, and secured also to the side bars 67 and 70, at 137, are the ends of the arched spring members 140, which are provided at their opposite ends with the rollers 141.

The tracks 132 are adapted to engage with the gripping jaws 122 to force them into engagement with a beet. The tracks 133 and 134, are adapted to engage with rollers 133, secured to the sleeves 104 and 105 to impart reciprocating movement thereto. rIhe tracks 135 are adapted to engage with the gripping members 122, to force them out of engagement with a beet and hold them in such position for a limited time. The tracks 136 are adapted to engage with rollers 139 secured to the rack bars 110.

Secured to the side rails 67 and 70 are the standards 142 and 143 which are suitably braced and project upwardly and terminate in the goose-neck ends 144, and secured to one of these standards is a segmental rack 145, and to the opposite standard a bar 146. Journaled in the members 145 and 146, is a shaft 147, having secured thereto the gear wheels 150 adapted to engage with the teeth formed by the lugs 31 on the wheels 63 and 64. The goosesneck ends 144, have mounted between them a housing` 151, which is pivoted on a shaft 152 supported thereon. Secured to the shaft 152 and located within the housing 151 is a bevel gear 153 adapted to mesh with a pinion 154 secured to a downwardly projecting shaft 155 journaled in a bearing 156 secured to said housing. Another shaft 157 located just below the shaft 152, passes through elongated apertures in the sides of the housing 151 and is secured at its free ends to depending plates 160 arranged one on each side of said housing. The plates 160 are fastened to the goose-neck ends 144, and the ends of the shaft 157 are secured to said plates by means of the nuts 161. By this arrangement it will be seen that by loosening the nuts 161 the housing may be swung on the shaft 152 in either direction, and clamped in such adjusted position. A sleeve 162 is mounted for rotation on the shaft 157, and has secured thereon the bevel gears v163 and 164 and the spur gea-r 165. whichis adapted to mesh with the spur gear 166 secured to the sha-tt 152.

Depending,` from the bottom oit the housing 151 and secured thereto are the journal sleeves 167 and 170 supporting the shafts 171 and 172, which carry on their lower ends the dish shaped topping,` discs 173 and 174 respectively. Secured to the upper ends ot the shafts 171 and 172 are the bevel gears 175, and 176 arranged within the housing 151, and adapted to mesh with the gears 163 and 164. Secured to the lower end oit the shaft 155 is an auxiliary dish shaped topping disc 177, and secured to the shaft 152 at a point just outside the casing 151 is a sprocket wheel 180, engaged by an endless link belt 131, which in turn engages with a sprocket wheel 182 secured to the shaft 147.

The shafts 171, 172, and 155 all radiate from a common point, which is located midway ot the machine and in line with the shaft 152, and the arc of the discs 173, 174, and 177 has a radius struck from this point. Thus it will be seen that the top of the beet will loe cut in the 'form or a crown, thereby eliminating all ot the non-usable portions and leaving only that part desirable for sugar purposes.

l 1t will be seen by the foregoing const-ruction that when the wheels 63 and 64 are rotated, motion is imparted to the shaft 152 through the medium of the sprocket and chain connection to the shaft- 147 which in turn is driven by means of the gea-rs 150,

which mesh with the teeth 81 on said wheels.'

The topping,` discs 172, 173, and 177 are driven inthe direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3 by the shaft 152, through the medium of the train of gears clearly shown in said figure.

i A chute 183 adapted to catch the beet tops, weeds, grass, etc., and direct them to the ground or` any suitable receptacle (not shown) is arranged between and supported by the standards 142 and 143, and is located below the topping,` discs 173 and 174, the ends .of the tracks 133 and 135 'oinine' tofrether :l D a as at 184 at this point to form a part of the bottom of said chute.

Another chute 185 is supported by the standardV 142 and is arranged adjacent' the discsr-173 and 177, to catch the topped beets and direct them to a wagon (not shown) which may travel alongside of the machine for this purpose.

1n order that the topping` discs may be properly adjusted with respect to the beet pullingl mechanism, means are provided for swinging` the housing 151 on the shaft 152 and holding` it in'such adjusted position, and to this end said housing is provided with ears 136 to which are pivoted at 137 a yoke 190 having threaded therein one end oi"- a rod 191 which passes through a sleeve 192 pivoted at 193 to the standard 142. The rod 191 is provided with collars 194 arranged one on each side ot the sleeve 192, and at its 'free end with the hand wheel 195. 1t will bey seen by this arangreinent, that by loosening the, nuts 161 on the ends ot the shaitt 157, and then turningv the hand wheel 195, the topping;` disc may `be swungl to any desired position.

rlhe rack-bar 110 is adapted to be held against further downward movement when its associated pulling' device reaches a point near the ground, and is in a position ready to actuate to pull a beet, and in order that said holding1 point may be :uljusted with respect to the surface ot the `ground, 1 provide a lever 200 which piyoted at 201, to one ot the radially disposed arms 131., lhe lever 200 is provided with the cam end 202 upon which the roller 139 secured to the rack bar 110, is adapted to ride and to be held thereby, and the hand lever 203, located within easy reach ot the operators seatI 53, which is pro4 vided with the usual locking latch 204, adapted to engage with the teeth oi the sew mental rack 145. By this arrangement it will be seen that the operator may adjust the (am 202 Yfrom time to time to compensate for the sinking` o1l the wheels 63 and 64 in the ground.

1t is the main purpose o1 this invention to top the beet with rci'erence to that part which proj cts out ot the ground, and it has been Afound by experiment that the proper proportion is about one halt, so with this proportion in view the mechanism is so arranged that the prongs 123 of the `gripping jaws 122, will grasp the beet at a point just midway between the ground and its top and convey it to the toiiipinp; discs in such manne that said prongs will always be an equal distance just below said topping;` discs. l`hus it will be seenv that the same proportion o t that part of the beet which projects out of the ground will always be cut away.

lilhe operation ot the machine is as follows: The machine is drawn over the lround in the direction indicated by the arrow A, (see Fig. 1) and the wheels 63 and 64 carryingr the beet pulling devices, rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow l through trictional contact with the ground. lVhen the roller 13S on the shell 97, comes in contact with the cam roll 141., the j ntrticular pulling;` device with which it is associated is approximately above the beet to be pulled. Upon continued movement the roller 13S is caused to ride downwardly by the cam 141 which in turn draws the shell 97 downwardly. lhc rack-bar 110 is held `troni downward movc ment at this time by the engagement o1: the roller 139 with the cam 202, consequently the pinion 106 carried by the shell 97 is caused to revolve and in 'turn causes the rackbar 111 to move downwardly at just twice the speed ot the shell 97. The shell 97 and rack-bar 111 continue to move downwardly until the plate 115 carried by the rack-bar 111 comes in Contact with the top ot a beet. By referring to Fig. 9 which represents the re ative position of the various working` parts of the pulling mechanism in a normal or starting position, it will be seen that the plate 115 is just twice the distance trom the surface of the ground as are the prongs 123 of the gripping aws 122 carried oy the shell 97, and tor the sake et explanation, we will assume that the plate 115 is sin inches from the ground and the prongs 1223 are three inches from the ground, and assuming that the top ot'v the beet projects three inches troni the surface ot' the ground as shown in Fig. 10, it will be obvious that when the plate 115 moves three inches downwardly to contact with the beet, the prongs 123 have moved downwardly just one and a halt inches, which brings them just midway be .veen the top of the beet and the ground. Thus it will be seen that no matter what distanf'fe th beet projects above the ground, the prongs 123 will be brought to a position to grasp it at a point just half way between the ground and its top.

After the plate 115 contacts with the top of a beet and upon continued movement of the wheels 63 and 34, the spring' 1110 carrying,l the cam roll 141, yields to allow the roller 138 to pass, and at the same time the gripping jaws 122 are engaged by the cam track 132 and are pressed inwardly, thus causing the prongs 128 to project into the beet. The heet is theu pulled out ot the ground and carried upwardly by the wheels, and is caused to be placed into proper and exact relative position with the topping discs 173,174, and 177, by means oitl the cam tracks 133 and 136, which engage with the rollers-138 and 189 respectively.

After the beet has become engaged by the crotch formed between the discs 17 3 and 174, the jaws 122 are spread apart at thc unction 1811 of the tracks 133 and 185, and is then severed by said discs. rllhe body portion of' the beet is carried around by the discs 173 and 177, and deposited in the chute 1,85 and the top ot the beet drops into thfJ chute 183. The disc 177 not only serres to direct the body portion of the beet to the chute 185, but also serves to cut away the ragged edges to shape it unitorinly.` lt will also he noted that the disc 177 will cao-operate with the discs 173 and 17dto cut away weeds.y and other foreign matter, which otherwise might clog up the mechanism.

After the beet has become disengaged from the prongs 123, the pulling,` mechanism is again adjusted to propel' relation to pull another beet by means of the tracks 152-1.

When it is desired to transport the ma-y chine over the road, it is obvious that the plow share 61 may be lifted clcartrom the surface of the ground, by the mechanism previously described, and in so doing, the plate 16 forming` a part ot the frame 12 will abut against the spacer bar 71 and in turn lift the wheels 62 and 63 from the ground.

lt-will he seen by the foregoingI description that 1 have provided a machine which will automatically pull the beets :from the ground, and present them to a topping mechanism, whereby they may be topped in regulated proportion to that part which projects above the ground.

lll/*hat l claim is:

l.. A beet harvesting' machine, cmnprisini; a pulling` mechanism adapted to grasp a l et at a point j iroportionate to that part which projects above the ground, a topping mechanisn'i, and means for presenting` the pulling mecha in uniform relation to said toppingmechanism, whereby the same proportionate amount of a beet will always be cut away.

2, A beet harresting` machine, comprising` mechanism for grasping a beet approximately inidway between its top and the ground, and means for operating` said mechanism.

A beet harvesting machine, comprising mechanisms 'for pulling a beet and severing it appri'iximatcly midway oetwe-en that portion which projects above the ground and the ground, and means for operating,` said mechanisms.

11. il. beet harvesting machine, comprising a beet pullingl device provided with a pair 'reciprocating members ceo-operating with each other to reciprocate diilerent speeds, one of the said members being,` adapted to contact with the top ci? a beet and the other ot said members being provided with means for grasping,i a beet, and means 'for operating' said members.

5. A beet harvesting machine, comprising,` a wheel adapted to be drawn over a row ot beets providedL with a plurality ot beet pulling devices adapted to grasp a beet at a point proporlionalc to that portion which projects above the ground, a topping device tor severing' the l; ts, and means tor adjusting said toppi.,-Y` device with respect to said pulling devices. j

(j. A beet .aivcstingr machine, comprising a plurality ot beet pulling devices, a topping mechanism adaptetl to co-operate with said pulling' devices tor severing; the beets, said topping mechanism comprising;` a plura ity oit dish shapel discs provided with knife edges errang-xd adjacent one another, and

VineaA s tor operating,- the mechanisms.

on each side of a row of beets journalled in said frame, a plurality ot beet pulling mechanisms supported between said pair ot wheels, said mechanism adapted to grasp the beets at a point proportionate to those portions that project above the ground, a beet topping mechanism supported on said rame,.and means supported on said trame for adjusting` said beet pulling mechanism with respect to said topping mechanism.

S. In a beetharvesting machine, a beet pulling mechanism comprising a slidably mounted shell, a plurality ot jaws pivoted on said shell, a pinion journaled in said shell, a rack-bar carrying a gauge plate adapted to slide within said shell and engage with one side ot` said pinion, a second rachbar adapted to engage with the oppos 1e side ot `said pinion and to be guided by a cam track, a cam tor operating said shell, and cam trac is tor opening` and closing said jaws.

9. A beet topping mechanisn, comprising a plurality ot cutting `Knives adapted to top a beet in the torni ot a crown, and means 'for operating said cutting knives.

10. In a beet harvesting machine, a rotary member-comprising a pair ot spaced wheels, a plurality or" pairs ot beet engaging prongs arranged between said wheels, means tor moving the members ot each pair ot prongs toward each other to engage the beets, and means for moving the pairs of prongs inwardly toward the aXis oit the wheels.

11.7In a beet harvesting machine.y a rotary member comprising a pair of spaced wheels, a plurality ot pairs oit' beet engaging prongs arranged between said wheels, means for moving the members of each pair ot prongs toward each other to engage the beets, means for moving the pairs of prongs inwardly toward the axis of the wheels, and means arranged above said wheels for cutting the tepseof the beets carried by said pairs ot prongs.

12. In a. beet harvesting machine, a pair o1E wheels spaced apart so as to traverse the ground at the sides oit a row of beets, a plurality of trames arranged for sliding movement between said wheels, beet engaging members arranged in pairs on said iframes, and means lor actuating said trames to move said beet engaging members toward and away from each other.

13. In a beet harvesting machine, a pair ot wheels spaced apart so as lo traverse. the ground at the sides of a row ol beets, a plurality ot trames arranged Yfor sliding movement between said. wheels, beet engaging members arranged in pairs on said trames, means tor actuating said trames to move said beet engaging members toward and away from each other, and adjustable means 'tor regulating the positions ol said frames while the beet engaging members are moved toward each other.

1i. In a beet harvesting machine, a rotary member, beet engaging means carried by said rotary member. beet topping means arranged above said rotary member, and means adapted to engage the rear portion of said rotary member tor operating said beet topping means.

15. A beet harvestingmachine, comprising mechanism for pulling a beet from the grou nd, mecha nism flior severing a beet. mechanism controlled by the top ot the beet tor automatically adjusting said pulling mechanisms with respect to the beets, and mechanisms for automatically adjusting the pulling mechanism with respect to the severing mechanism.

In witness that I claim the foregoing vI have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th day of April, 1919.

SAMUEL (l. REALE. 

